The Top Offseason Task for Every NBA Team Projected to Miss the 2015 Playoffs
原文：http://ble.ac/1Dzbga0
中文圖文版：http://www.sportsv.net/articles/12468
原文作者：Bryan Toporek, Featured Columnist
翻譯者前言：此分析系列的第二篇翻譯對象，也在第一篇發表之後的隔天決定好了，那就
是與第一篇雷霆同屬西北組的金塊。金塊隊固然符合我上篇預告中「兩年前強盛但現在衰
弱」的條件，但我會選擇金塊其實也有更深層的原因(容待個人心得後述)。
當然，金塊這一段原文的用字也不會太難，蠻適合當做學英文的延伸補充資料
Denver Nuggets: Determine a Direction
金塊：明確評估未來的方向
The Denver Nuggets' activity at the trade deadline can only be described as
head-scratching.
金塊隊在今年季中交易截止日前後的舉動，在專家與鄉民眼前，都是困惑到想讓人抓頭
的。
The Nuggets shipped Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee to the Portland Trail
Blazers for Thomas Robinson (who they quickly waived), guard Will Barton,
forward Victor Claver and a lottery-protected 2016 first-round draft pick.
他們先是將中生代得分後衛Arron Afflalo與Alonzo Gee兩人，送到同屬西北組的拓荒
者，換來馬上被釋出的大前鋒Thomas Robinson、幾天後也被裁掉的西班牙前鋒Victor
Claver、得分後衛Will Barton，以及一枚受到特定條件保護的明年首輪選秀權。
(譯註：我在尋找Afflalo的照片時，發現他在場上很少展露喜怒哀樂，不過當他被交易
到拓荒者後的前幾場球賽，他卻難得地在接受記者訪問時露出了微笑，不難看出他終於
如願轉換到更有希望新環境的喜悅)
Shortly after that, they sent JaVale McGee to the Philadelphia 76ers with a
protected first-rounder in what effectively amounted to a salary dump.
同一天的幾分鐘後，金塊為了節省本季的球員薪資總額，還順道把年薪千萬但近年因傷
所困的長人JaVale McGee送往七六人。只是，他們得同時附送七六人一個受條件保護的
首輪選秀籤。
Two weeks later, Denver fired head coach Brian Shaw and immediately proceeded
to win six of its next eight games, looking like as entirely different team.
交易截止日兩週後，金塊開除了帶戰備受批評的Brian Shaw，球隊也以8戰6勝的成績開
出慶祝行情，讓人認為球隊變得不一樣了。
That didn't last long, however, as the Nuggets then dropped eight of their
next 10 games, including a 14-point loss at the hands of the bottom-feeding
76ers.
只可惜，這段蜜月期並不持久。金塊在接下來的10場比賽又輸了八場，這其中還包括以
14分的差距輸給戰績更差的七六人。
Come the offseason, Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly must determine
whether Melvin Hunt is the right long-term fit for the franchise, or if
there's a better head coaching candidate out there.
今年暑假，金塊總管Tim Connelly有一個必做任務，那就是：評估目前掛名代理總教練
的Melvin Hunt，是不是適合球隊長期發展的正確人選。否則，他們就要另外在市場上
尋找其他評價更好的教練。
First, however, "Denver needs to figure out what kind of team it wants to
be," as Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin wrote.
然而，在NBC體育網站旗下籃球部落格「Pro Basketball Talk」資深記者Kurt Helin的
文章中，他認為金塊第一個要解決的事情，其實是「仔細思考想要在下一季成為什麼樣
的球隊」。
Shaw wasn't shy about his desire to run a half-court-centric offense, but the
Nuggets roster under him was better suited to George Karl's run-and-gun style.
Shaw在接任金塊總教練時，便不吝於表達想要套用「半場進攻」的慾望，但他帶領的球
員，很明顯更適合現任國王教練George Karl當時採用的Run & Gun風格。
Not only does Denver need to decide upon a style of play and hire a coach
accordingly, but the franchise must also determine whether to move into a
full-on rebuild.
金塊的管理階層不僅需要在休賽期間決定他們往後的球風，並依此找到適當的教練，甚
至也得明確決定是否要讓球隊進入「完全重建」模式。
If the Nuggets fail to settle upon a direction this summer, they would likely
be dooming their next head coach from the get-go, much like Shaw.
假如無法在暑假確定明確的方向，無論接下來由誰擔任金塊的新教練，遲早都會像Brian
Shaw那樣，成為下一個犧牲品。
Getting the front office and future coach on the same page is critical if
Denver hopes to eventually retake its place among the Western Conference's
top contenders.
假如金塊想要重返西區季後賽強權的地位，使管理組與新教練步調一致，絕對是不可或
缺的關鍵因子。